Mumbai – May 15, 2023: Westlife Foodworld Ltd. (formerly Westlife Development Ltd.) – owner and operator of McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India – designated Amit Jatia, previously Vice Chairman of Westlife Foodworld, as Chairperson of the company effective today. Along with this transition, Smita Jatia, will now be taking over as Vice Chairperson of the company.
Amit, widely regarded as the country’s pioneer of the QSR industry in India, was instrumental in establishing McDonald’s in India in 1996. Since then, he has been an integral part of the QSR industry for over 26 years. Under his leadership, McDonald’s India (West & South) expanded its footprint to over 357 restaurants, launched its in-house specialty coffee chain McCafé, and scaled itself to a food tech company going from strength to strength.
Amit Jatia, Chairperson, Westlife Foodworld said, “I am deeply honoured to accept the appointment as Chairperson of Westlife Foodworld. It has been a privilege for me to lead such a talented and dedicated team of professionals who have built a strong organization over the years. I am humbled by the trust that the Board of Directors has placed in me, and I am committed to serving the best interests of our shareholders, employees, customers, and communities.
My role will be to ensure that we continue to navigate the opportunities of the rapidly changing global business landscape, through a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence across all facets of our business. At the same time, we shall remain true to the core values that have made our company successful. I look forward to working closely with our Board of Directors, leadership team, and all our employees to achieve our shared vision for the future.”
Smita Jatia, has been elevated to Vice Chairperson of the company, effective today. A business stalwart with over two decades of experience in the QSR industry, Smita was instrumental in the company’s growth trajectory, launching innovative formats, and most importantly, reviving the brand during and after COVID. She has been at the forefront of driving the aggressive growth of McDonald’s in the market and establishing it as one of the most loved brands in the country.
Smita Jatia, Vice Chairperson, Westlife Foodworld said, “I am honoured and excited to accept the position of Vice Chairperson of Westlife Foodworld. The journey to this new role has been remarkable, and I am grateful for the support and encouragement of my colleagues, the Board of Directors, and our stakeholders.
As Vice Chairperson, I am committed to advancing our company’s growth strategy and building on the legacy of the iconic brand. I will leverage my experience to guide our talented team in identifying new opportunities, expanding our reach, and enhancing our value proposition in an ever-changing market. In this new role, I look forward to contributing to Westlife Foodworld’s continued success.”
About Westlife:
Westlife Foodworld Limited (BSE: 505533) (WFL), formerly known as Westlife Development Ltd (WDL), focuses on setting up and operating Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) in India through its subsidiary Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. (HRPL). The Company operates a chain of McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India, having a master franchisee relationship with McDonald’s Corporation USA, through the latter’s subsidiary.
About Hardcastle Restaurants:
HRPL is a McDonald’s franchisee with rights to own and operate McDonald’s restaurants in India’s West and South markets. HRPL has been a franchisee in the region since its inception in 1996.
HRPL serves over 200 million customers, annually, at its 357(as of March 31, 2023) McDonald’s restaurants across 56 cities in the states of Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Union Territory of Puducherry and provides direct employment to over 10,000 employees. McDonald’s operates through various formats and brand extensions including standalone restaurants, drive- thrus, 24/7, McDelivery, McBreakfast and dessert kiosks. The menu features Burgers, Wraps, and Hot and Cold Beverages besides a wide range of desserts. Several of the McDonald’s restaurants feature an in-house McCafé.
The pillars of the McDonald’s system – Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value – are evident at each of the restaurants that HRPL operates.
